National curriculum tests for seven-year-olds in England are to be scrapped, the Government has confirmed.

The controversial tests, taken by around half a million youngsters each year, will no longer be compulsory from 2023, as part of a major overhaul of primary school assessment.

Instead, children will undergo a "baseline" check at the age of four or five, in their first year of infant school.

Ministers have also confirmed plans to bring in a times table test in two years' time, which will be taken by children in Year 4 (aged eight and nine).

While the move to scrap SATs for seven-year-olds has been broadly welcomed, concerns have been raised by union leaders about the baseline and times tables checks, with one arguing that these assessments will be of "no educational benefit to children".

Plans for a shake-up of the system were first announced and put out to consultation earlier this year. This announcement confirms that the Department for Education is pushing ahead with its proposals.

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Under the changes Key Stage 1 tests in reading, writing, maths and science - known as SATs - will no longer be compulsory.

Schools will also not be required to submit teacher assessments to the Government of pupils' work in reading and maths at the age of 11. This is not necessary because these subjects are already tested through SATs tests in Year 6, and will help to reduce teacher workload, the Department for Education said.

Primary school SATs have long been controversial, with critics arguing that it puts too much pressure on young children, while supporters say they help identify youngsters that need assistance and ensure schools are helping children grasp the basics.

There will be a baseline assessment which will be used as a marker of children's abilities in their reception year, at the start of their schooling, the DfE confirmed, and this information will be used to track and measure youngsters' progress up until they leave primary school.

It means that schools will be held to account for the progress that children make throughout their primary school career. SATs for 11-year-olds will remain.

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The times tables check, which will begin in 2019/20, will help children's "fluency in mathematics", the Government said.

It has been confirmed that this assessment will be taken by Year 4 pupils - two years earlier than had initially been expected.

When former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan first mooted the idea last year, she said that every pupil would be expected to know their multiplication tables up to 12 x 12 by the time they reached the end of primary school (Year 6).

Education Secretary Justine Greening said: "These changes will free up teachers to educate and inspire young children while holding schools to account in a proportionate and effective way."

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But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The reception baseline assessment and multiplication tables check will be of no educational benefit to children and break the promise not to increase the assessment burden on primary schools.

"These tests will be a waste of valuable time, energy and money and should not be introduced."

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: "The decision to make SATs for seven-year-olds non-statutory in favour of a new reception baseline assessment may well be met with trepidation by some, but it is absolutely the right thing to do.

"Under current accountability arrangements, the hard work and success of schools during those critical first years is largely ignored. If designed properly, these new assessments can provide useful information for schools to help inform teaching and learning whilst avoiding unnecessary burdens on teachers or anxiety for young children."